I am fortunate to have a view of the real estate market which most folks just don’t have. I sell many homes each year and talk to mortgage lenders, buyers, sellers, home inspectors, stagers, contractors and so many others connected in some fashion to the housing market. In my conversations we discuss the current state of the market as well as their prediction or feel for the future based on their client’s comments and views of the present health of our local real estate market as well as the expectations for the future. I want to share those views with you, the reader, so you can make plans for your home sale when the time is right for you. Also, you can share this information with your children and grandchildren who may be on the sidelines waiting for the right time to jump into the housing market for their very first purchase.

The overwhelming sentiment is that we will not see appreciable appreciation of our single family homes for another two to three years. But the good news is that price depreciation is slowing down to a single digit decline and moving towards stabilization. That is very good news, as prices have fallen since 2006. That has been a 5 year fall in home values for an average decline of 20-40%, depending on location. Inventory of homes for sale is also falling which is a sign of recovery. Therefore, do we wait for that moment when we know the bottom is here and prices are on the rise? My experience shows me that (more…)

So many of us are wondering what direction the real estate market will go. Will prices rise, will prices fall? Will foreclosures increase or will they decrease? When will the market stabilize and when will prices recover?

The answers to all of these questions are the same…who knows! Pundits are all over the place as to sales of existing homes in our area. Most agree that it will be 3-5 years before we see equilibrium as to numbers of buyers and sellers. That is the point where values may be more predictable and possibly rise with inflation (1-3% depending on economics at that time). We do however have total control as to how we choose to perceive the market!

If we accept the fact that homes will always sell for what the market supports, in this case what buyers will pay, then we can make peace with where we are today, not tomorrow or 10 years from now. In most areas, properties have adjusted downward by 15-30% on average from prices in 2005-6. I do market estimates in the four county Milwaukee-Metro area. When I am finished with the estimate of value, most sellers thought their home was worth about 10% more than the current market offers. That is normal. We can accept reality that we feel comfortable with, and no more.

If we instead, accept market prices where they truly are, and not where we would like them to be, then make plans based on that figure, you may find that your plans to purchase or move into an apartment or community will work just fine with net dollars you receive. Try to keep in mind what (more…)